Ideal for monitoring flows in canals, culverts, pipes, and natural streams, the SonTek-IQ starts with a custom flow algorithm derived from hundreds of field measurements. Four velocity beams profile water velocity along both the length and width of the channel, to ensure best possible coverage and most accurate representation of the velocity field. The built-in pressure sensor and vertical acoustic beam work in tandem to measure water level. Simply input the channel geometry using the intuitive SonTek-IQ software and you are outputting flow data in minutes.

NEW! All stainless steel hardware makes the IQ even more capable in difficult environments such as stormwater and certain wastewater where corrosion is a potential concern.

Features

Specifications

Software

Capable of working both in man-made as well as natural channels, the SonTek-IQ can collect flow (area-velocity) and volume data in as little as 8 cm (3 in) of water. Its five-beam pulsed Doppler design is Modbus, SDI-12, RS232 and Analog ready. Even better news - the SonTek-IQ installs with limited or no earthworks. With the SonTek-IQ, expect to get quality data for quality decision making.

The SonTek-IQ Standard, the SonTek-IQ Plus and SonTek-IQ Pipe all operate at 3 MHz. The Standard model works in depths up to 1.5 m (5 ft), while the Plus and Pipe model are ideal for water depths up to 5m (16 ft). The SonTek-IQ Plus/Pipe also incorporates advanced post-processing functions, providing deeper insight into your flow and volume data. All models use SonTek's proprietary algorithm SmartPulseHD.

Specification

Standard

Plus

Pipe

Application1

Regular Canals

Open Channels

Pipes & Culverts

Acoustics Beams — Along-Axis (2)

25° off vertical axis, along axis of channel

25° off vertical axis, along axis of channel

25° off vertical axis, along axis of channel

Acoustics Beams — Skew (2)

60° off vertical and 60° off center axis of channel

60° off vertical and 60° off center axis of channel

37° off vertical and 45° off center axis of channel

Velocity — Sampling Range

0.05 – 1.5 m | 0.16 - 5 ft

0.05 – 5.0 m | 0.16 - 16 ft

0.05 – 5.0 m | 0.16 - 16 ft

Number of cells

1

Up to 100

Up to 100

Cell Size

Dynamic integrated

2 cm – 10 cm | 0.8 - 4 in

2 cm – 10 cm | 0.8 - 4 in

Velocity — Range

±5 m/s | 16 ft/s

±5 m/s | 16 ft/s

±5 m/s | 16 ft/s

Velocity — Resolution

0.0001 m/s | 0.0003 ft/s

0.0001 m/s | 0.0003 ft/s

0.0001 m/s | 0.0003 ft/s

Velocity — Accuracy

±1% of measured velocity, ±0.5 cm/s | 0.2 in/s

±1% of measured velocity, ±0.5 cm/s | 0.2 in/s

±1% of measured velocity, ±0.5 cm/s | 0.2 in/s

Advanced Data Reprocessing

N/A

Yes

Yes

Increased Number of Data Fields

N/A

Yes

Yes

Vertical Beam Range2

0.05 – 1.5 m | 0.2 - 5 ft

0.05 - 5.0 m | 0.2 - 16 ft

0.05 - 5.0 m | 0.2 - 16 ft

Water Level Accuracy

0.1% of measured depth or ±0.003 m (0.01 ft), whichever is greater

0.1% of measured depth or ±0.003 m (0.01 ft), whichever is greater

0.1% of measured depth or ±0.003 m (0.01 ft), whichever is greater

Pressure — Range3

30 m | 98 ft; 42 psi

30 m | 98 ft; 42 psi

30 m | 98 ft; 42 psi

Pressure — Accuracy

0.1% of full scale

0.1% of full scale

0.1% of full scale

Communications

RS232, SDI-12, Modbus, Analog (via optional Flow Display)

RS232, SDI-12, Modbus, Analog (via optional Flow Display)

RS232, SDI-12, Modbus, Analog (via optional Flow Display)

Data Storage

4GB (approximately 1-yr)

4GB (approximately 1-yr)

4GB (approximately 1-yr)

Operating Temperature

-5 to 60°C | 23-140°F

-5 to 60°C | 23-140°F

-5 to 60°C | 23-140°F

Temperature & Tilt Sensors

Yes

Yes

Yes

1 The SonTek-IQ Series is not IS or ATEX certified. Do not use in areas with explosion risk.2 Water level measured primarily with vertical beam, with pressure sensor for redundancy.3 For use in pressurized pipes. Housing rated to 42 psi.

Become an instant velocity-indexing pro! FlowPack allows you to generate easy to interpret Velocity-Index ratings. Promising to make your data reporting process a whole lot friendlier (and faster), FlowPack also provides a simple method to store flow, velocity, and stage measurements — all through one software program. FlowPack can produce comprehensive reports that assist you in making better, more informed decisions.

The SonTek IQ Window-based software package contains an all in one package for interfacing with the SonTek IQ Standar, Plus and Pipe models. The software is used to interface, configure the system, visualize and export data.

Recent improvements include:

Added user-configurable (manual) velocity cell sizes

Increased sampling interval and duration range: 1 to 3600 seconds

Improved performance in very shallow water (less than 15cm)

Other features include:

Water level options, including the ability to use pressure data if vertical beam is too shallow or variable. Gives you more data in shallow and variable conditions when data might otherwise not be reported. Prevents data loss.

Advanced user settings for working in difficult flow regimes. Gives you more flexibility to adapt to conditions at your particular site.

File size limit on recorded data files. The IQ reports lots of data--you might want all those data but not in large file sizes that take long to download. Now, you can opt to limit file sizes for more bite-size downloads.

Modbus output now includes the 40,000 registers. Some Modbus users will find this easier to integrate with their networks.

When outputting total volume, now you can choose to reset the total volume after N samples. This is more convenient and allows higher-resolution data for those outputting data over analog signal that has to be set up with a maximum analog signal range.

Spotlight

Measuring flow in the Murray-Darling Basin is of national importance. Every litre is precious in the dusty Australian bush. Farmers in the basin generate 39 percent of Australia's agricultural income, producing more than half of the nation's grain, 95 percent of its oranges, and millions of head of livestock.

Explore

Support

SonTek - A Xylem Brand

SonTek, advancing environmental science in over 100 countries, manufactures affordable, reliable acoustic Doppler instrumentation for water velocity measurement in oceans, rivers, lakes, canals, harbors, estuaries, and laboratories. Our instruments use sound waves to tell you how fast water is moving, where it is moving, and even if it is not moving at all. Our customers are scientists, engineers, hydrologists, research associates, water resource planners and anyone that needs to collect velocity (speed) data in every kind of body of water imaginable.

SonTek is a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador! The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador initiative is an effort to formally recognize NOAA partners who are improving the nation's readiness against extreme weather, water, and climate events. As a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, SonTek is committed to work with NOAA and other Ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather.